Number System

In a digital system, the system can understand only the optional number system. In
these systems, digits symbols are used to represent different values, depending on the
index from which it settled in the number system.

In simple terms, for representing the information, we use the number system in the
digital system.

The digit value in the number system is calculated using:

1. The digit
2. The index, where the digit is present in the number.
3. Finally, the base numbers, the total number of digits available in the number system.

Note: When the number system represents a digit from 0 - 9, the base of the number will be
10.

Types of Number System

In the digital computer, there are various types of number systems used for
representing information.

1. Binary Number System

2. Decimal Number System
3. Hexadecimal Number System
4. Octal Number System

Binary Number System

Generally, a binary number system is used in the digital computers. In this number
system, it carries only two digits, either 0 or 1. There are two types of electronic pulses
present in a binary number system. The first one is the absence of an electronic pulse
representing '0'and second one is the presence of electronic pulse representing '1'. Each
digit is known as a bit. A four-bit collection (1101) is known as a nibble, and a collection
of eight bits (11001010) is known as a byte. The location of a digit in a binary number
represents a specific power of the base (2) of the number system.

Characteristics:

1. It holds only two values, i.e., either 0 or 1.

2. It is also known as the base 2 number system.
3. The position of a digit represents the 0 power of the base(2). Example: 2 0
4. The position of the last digit represents the x power of the base(2). Example: 2 x, where x
represents the last position, i.e., 1

Examples:

(10100)2, (11011)2, (11001)2, (000101)2, (011010)2.

Decimal Number System

The decimal numbers are used in our day to day life. The decimal number system
contains ten digits from 0 to 9(base 10). Here, the successive place value or position, left
to the decimal point holds units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on.

The position in the decimal number system specifies the power of the base (10). The 0 is
the minimum value of the digit, and 9 is the maximum value of the digit. For example,
the decimal number 2541 consist of the digit 1 in the unit position, 4 in the tens
position, 5 in the hundreds position, and 2 in the thousand positions and the value will
be written as:

(2×1000) + (5×100) + (4×10) + (1×1)

(2×103) + (5×102) + (4×101) + (1×100)
2000 + 500 + 40 + 1
2541

Octal Number System

The octal number system has base 8(means it has only eight digits from 0 to 7). There
are only eight possible digit values to represent a number. With the help of only three
bits, an octal number is represented. Each set of bits has a distinct value between 0 and
7.

Below, we have described certain characteristics of the octal number system:

Characteristics:

1. An octal number system carries eight digits starting from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

2. It is also known as the base 8 number system.
3. The position of a digit represents the 0 power of the base(8). Example: 8 0
4. The position of the last digit represents the x power of the base(8). Example: 8 x, where x
represents the last position, i.e., 1

Number Octal Number

0 000

1 001

2 010

3 011

4 100

5 101

6 110

7 111

Examples:

(273)8, (5644)8, (0.5365)8, (1123)8, (1223)8.

Hexadecimal Number System

It is another technique to represent the number in the digital system called
the hexadecimal number system. The number system has a base of 16 means there
are total 16 symbols(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F) used for representing a
number. The single-bit representation of decimal values10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 are
represented by A, B, C, D, E, and F. Only 4 bits are required for representing a number in
a hexadecimal number. Each set of bits has a distinct value between 0 and 15. There are
the following characteristics of the octal number system:

Characteristics:

1. It has ten digits from 0 to 9 and 6 letters from A to F.

2. The letters from A to F defines numbers from 10 to 15.
3. It is also known as the base 16number system.
4. In hexadecimal number, the position of a digit represents the 0 power of the base(16).
Example: 160
5. In hexadecimal number, the position of the last digit represents the x power of the
base(16). Example: 16x, where x represents the last position, i.e., 1

Binary Number Hexadecimal Number

0000 0

0001 1

0010 2

0011 3

0100 4

0101 5

0110 6

0111 7

1000 8
 1001 9

1010 A

1011 B

1100 C

1101 D

1110 E

1111 F

Examples:

(FAC2)16, (564)16, (0ABD5)16, (1123)16, (11F3)16.

What is Number System ?

A number system is a method to represent numbers mathematically. It can
use arithmetic operations to represent every number uniquely. To represent
a number, it requires a base or radix.

Types of Number System

There are four common types of number systems based on the radix or base
of the number :
1. Decimal number system or Base 10 number system
2. Binary number system or Base 2 number system
3. Octal number system or Base 8 number system
4. Hexadecimal number system or Base 16 number system
Number System Conversion Methods
A number N in base or radix b can be written as:
(N)b = dn-1 dn-2 -- -- -- -- d1 d0 . d-1 d-2 -- -- -- -- d-m

In the above, dn-1 to d0 is the integer part, then follows a radix point, and then
d-1 to d-m is the fractional part.
dn-1 = Most significant bit (MSB)
d-m = Least significant bit (LSB)

1. Decimal to Binary Number System

To convert from decimal to binary, start dividing decimal number by 2, and
whatever the reminder getting, writing down from bottom to top, and that will
be the binary number representation of the decimal number. And the number
contains fractional part, then multiply 2 in the fractional part.
Example
(10.25)10

Note: Keep multiplying the fractional part with 2 until decimal part 0.00 is
obtained.
(0.25)10 = (0.01)2
Answer: (10.25)10 = (1010.01)2
2. Binary to Decimal Number System
To convert from binary to decimal, start multiplying the exponent of 2 with
each digit of the number in decreasing order. If the number contains
fractional part then will divide it by the exponent of 2.
Example
(1010.01)2
1x23 + 0x22 + 1x21+ 0x20 + 0x2 -1 + 1x2 -2 = 8+0+2+0+0+0.25 = 10.25
(1010.01)2 = (10.25)10
3. Decimal to Octal Number System
To convert from decimal to octal, start dividing decimal number by 8, and
whatever the reminder getting, writing down from bottom to top, and that will
be the octal number representation of the decimal number. And the number
contains fractional part, then multiply 8 in the fractional part.
Example
(10.25)10
(10)10 = (12)8
Fractional part:
0.25 x 8 = 2.00
Note: Keep multiplying the fractional part with 8 until decimal part .00 is
obtained.
(.25)10 = (.2)8
Answer: (10.25)10 = (12.2)8

4. Octal to Decimal Number System

To convert from octal to decimal, start multiplying the exponent of 8 with
each digit of the number in decreasing order. If the number contains
fractional part then will divide it by the exponent of 8.
Example
(12.2)8
1 x 81 + 2 x 80 +2 x 8-1 = 8+2+0.25 = 10.25
(12.2)8 = (10.25)10
5. Hexadecimal to Binary Number System
To convert from Hexadecimal to Binary, write the 4-bit binary equivalent of
hexadecimal.
Example
(3A)16 = (00111010)2
6. Binary to Hexadecimal Number System
To convert from Binary to Hexadecimal, start grouping the bits in groups of 4
from the right-end and write the equivalent hexadecimal for the 4-bit binary.
Add extra 0’s on the left to adjust the groups.
Example
1111011011
0011 1101 1011
(001111011011 )2 = (3DB)16
7. Binary to Octal Number System
To convert from binary to octal, start grouping the bits in groups of 3 from the
right end and write the equivalent octal for the 3-bit binary. Add 0’s on the left
to adjust the groups.
Example
111101101
111 101 101
(111101101)2 = (755)8
Conclusion
In the conclusion, number system provides a representation of a number
with respect to the given base or radix. Basically, we have common types of
number system named as binary number system, decimal number system,
octal number system and hexadecimal number system.
Number System and Base Conversions
What is number system and its conversion?
A number system is a method to represent numbers mathematically. It can
use arithmetic operations to represent every number uniquely. To represent
a number, we convert it requires a base or radix.

How to do base conversions?

For this, first take the number and then divide it by the given base. Then note
down the remainder obtained after the division. Then, divide the quotient of
the division obtained by the given base.

How to calculate number system?

There are 3 required steps to calculate the number system.
STEP 1 – Divide the number with the given base of another number.
STEP 2 – Note down the resulting remainder
STEP 3 – Divide the quotient